Wrench



Nov, 15, 1927.

N. H. ROBINSON WRENCH Filed April 8, 1924 ma )y n m @M2 [uw m/ M lil illatented Nov. 15, i927.

TES

Malz-s 'Param OFFICE.

NATHAN n. no'nr'nson, or snanvfrnnn, MASSACHUSETTS.

WRENCH.

Appucationaied apra a, 19211. serial no. 704,955.

rlhis invention relates to wrenches of that type having relatively movable jaws.

Wrenches of this type are often used in diflicultly accessible situations, and one ob ject of the invention is to provide a wrench so Constructed that the user may, if neces- I great force in adjusting themova'blejaw to- Ward or from the work while at the same time providing the adjusting element and the shanlr of the movable jaw with screwthreaded engaging surfaces of unusual length thereby increasing the strength and durability of the parts; to provide anti`-fric tion means to sustain ythe thrust of the rotary actuating element in setting up the movable jaw against the work; and to `embody the several features of improvement in a construction comprising few and simple parts.

For purposes of illustration the invention is herein disclosed as embodied in a wrench of the Stillson type although theinvention is not necessarily `limited to wrenches of particular type, that exemplification of the invention chosen for illustration being shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a `fragi'nentary side elevation of a wrench embodying they present invention;

Fig. 2 is an 'end elevation of the wrench talren from its right-hand end 4as viewed in Fie- 1; f

Fig. 3 is a 'fragmentary `longitudinal section substantially on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2; and

on the line 4 -4 of Fig. 1.

The numeral 1 indicates the fixed jaw of the wrench, such j aw being integral with or rigidly secured to the handle 2. Preferably 'the fixed jaw is provided with a hard-r I cured to the plates 3 and l by rivets G.

A supporting block 7 is mounted upon the lined jaw 1. This supporting block is furnished with a longitudinal channel 8 at vits lower side, as viewed in Figs. 1 to 3 inclull l is a fragmentary horizontal section` sive, such channel being defined-by the side walls 9and 10 whichare yspaced apart a distance substantially equal to the thicknessof the aw 1 and handle 2. Thewfixe'd and handle are disposed in its channel between lthe parts 9 and 10, andthe jaw ispi'vota'lly connected tok the block byfmeansfofalfpin 11.

"llhe numeral 12 indicates the movable jaw provided, if desired, with a hardened wearplatey 14 and having an elongate shank13 which may beintergral with the aw or rigidly secured thereto. y 1 y The shank 13 is preferably of substan- 'tially rectangular transverse section, buthas curved upperand lower edges 15 and 1'6fre-` specitive'ly which are scre`w-threaded as indicated at 17. The shank 13is guided ina slot in thebloclr 7, the slot being ofsubstantially. the width of theshanlr vso as to prevent lateral movement of the flatter 'as it slides within the block. Y

The threaded portions of the shank 13 engage the internally screw-threaded bore'of `an actuator' sleevef18. This sleeve lis elon- `gate `in form,..extendng substantially parallel to and 'adjacentztothe handle 2. v The outer surface of this sleeve is preferably ltnurled as indicated at 18E* to provide a secure grip for the hand ofthe user.

`The forward portionofthe sleeve 18is disposed between members 19 1a'ndi2() carried byor forming integral portions of the `block `7. AThese members 19 and`20 are spaced apart vertically ad distance substantially equal to the diameteriof the sleeve 18 `so that "thelatter bears firmly against the opposed faces of said members. At a pointv adjacent to the `junction of them'embers 19 and 20 with the main portion of the block 7, ak chamber is formed within the latter, therearwall surfaces 21 and 22 of said chamber lying in i substantially the same plane and forming an abutment for a radial flange23 which projects from the forward end of theisleeve 18.

Upon lthe `front side of `fthe block 7 as viewed in Fig. 1, a pair ofspace'd ears `or lugs 24 and 25 is provided in which theopposite ends of an pin 26 are secured see Fig. 2. Similar vlugs or ears 27 and 2S project from the rear face of the bloclr` 7 and support apin 29.. Vertically elongate rollersf30 and 31 are journalled upon pins 26 and 29 and are so arranged that when the rear faceof the flange 23 engages the abutment surfaces 2l and 22, its forward face is substantially 4in contact with the rollers, the latter forming lill - same manner.

an anti-friction abutment which opposes the axial vthrust of the sleeve 18 when the latter is turned to move the shank 13 with its jaw 12 toward the work. As indicated the rollers form substantially a line contact between the abutment 23 and block 7 thereby materially reducing friction and contributing to the ease of operation of the tool. lVhen the jaw is moved in the opposite direction, the thrust is borne by the surfaces 21 and 22, but as the thrust of opening the jaw is relatively slight, it is usually unnecessary to provide anti-friction bearings at this point, although it is contemplated that such bearings might be provided if desired. Furthermore, under some circumstances, the sleeve 18 may extend completely through block 19 with a ilange or collar at each side of the block, such ilanges or collars engaging anti-friction devices it' desired.

To assist in guiding the shank 13 as the movable jaw is advanced or retracted, it is preferred to provide the plates 4c with upstanding ears 32 which lie upon opposite sides of the shank and assist in preventing lateral movement of the latter.

When the device is in use, the movable jaw may be 'separated from the jaw 3 by turning the sleeve 1S, which is readily accomplished by the thumb and finger of the user while grasping the handle 2 with the other fingers of the same hand. The jaw 14 may be advanced to grip the work in the As the sleeve 18 is of substantal length it is possible when circumstances demand it, for the operator to grasp it with his entire hand so that he may exert the full strength of his hand in adjusting the jaw 14e. This is often of decided advantage when attempting to manipulate hard or unusually smooth material where ythe jaws tend to slip and must be set up very firmly against the work.

The long threaded engagement of the sleeve 18 and shank 13 makes the wrench unusually strong and eliminates tendency to strip the threads when subjected to great force.

. The device as thus constructed is strong and substantial, consists of but few parts,

and is capable of withstanding hard usage without sustaining severe injury.

I claim:

1. A wrench comprising a iixed jaw, a handle, a support carried by the fixed jaw, said support having a guideway, a movable jaw having a shank sliding in said guideway, said shank having an externally screwthreaded portion, an elongate internally threaded actuating sleeve engaging an exteriorly threaded portion of the shank, and anti-friction means interposed between the support andthe sleeve to oppose the axial thrust of the sleeve when rotated to adjust themovable jaw.

2. A wrench comprising a fixed jaw, a handle associated therewith, a support carried thereby, said support having a guideway, a movable jaw having an exterior-ly screw-threaded shank sliding in said guideway, an internally threaded actuating sleeve engaging the shank, and anti-friction rollers interposed between the support and the end of the sleeve to receive the axial thrust of the sleeve when rotated to advance the movable jaw toward the lixed jaw.

3. A wrench comprising a tixed jaw, a handle associated therewith, a support carried thereby, a movable jaw having a screwthreaded shank, a rotary actuating member having threaded engagement with the shank, and rollers carried by the support, said rollers being supported on axes substantially perpendicular to the axis of the rotary actuating member and constituting an abutment for the latter.

4. A wrench comprising a fixed jaw, a handle associated therewith, a supporting block carried thereby, said block having a passage therein, a movable jaw having a shank sliding in said passage, said shank having a screw-threaded portion, a rotary actuator having screw-threaded engagement with the threaded portion of the shank, and a pair of parallel rollers, one roller being disposed at each side ofthe block, said rollers constituting anti-friction abutments to receive the axial thrust of the actuator when the latter is rotated to advance the movable jaw.

5. A wrench comprising a fixed jaw, a handle associated therewith a supporting block carried thereby, said block having a guideway therein, a movable jaw having an externally screw-threaded shank sliding in said guideway, said block also having an opening, a rotary actuating sleeve turning in said 'opening in the block, said sleeve havinr a radial flange at its forward end, fixed abutment faces upon the block, one face of the fiange bearing against said fixed abutment faces, and a plurality of anti-friction devices carried by the block and engaging the opposite face of the flange.

6. A wrench comprising a fixed jaw, a handle, a supporting' block carried by the fixed jaw, said block having a guideway therein, a movable jaw having an externally screw-threaded shank sliding in said guideway, an elongate internally screw-threaded actuating sleeve engaging the shank of the movable jaw, the block having an opening therein, said sleeve turning in the opening in the block, a radial flange at the forward end of the sleeve, a pair of lugs projecting from each side ot the block, pins having their ends secured respectively in the lugs of each pair, and rollers mounted to turn upon said pins, said rollers bearing againstthe forward face of the flange and lll) fla-nge disposed Within the chamber in the block and bearing Vagainst the rear Wall of said chamber, and a roller mounted at each side of the block, said rollers bearing respectively against the forward face of the flange at opposite sides of the axis of the actuating sleeve, the latter extending rearwardly from the block closely adjacent to and substantially parallel with the handle.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 25th day of March, 1924.

NATHAN H. ROBINSON. 

